Happy Monday! I unfortunately can’t seem to shake the ru...
Happy Monday!
I unfortunately can’t seem to shake the rust fungus off of my Monstera Mint. I have been doing treatments with captain jacks for a little over a month now. (Spraying the entire plant once every 9 days)- and there’s still ALOT of new fungal growth.
The fungus is only on the small leaves- the 2 largest leaves are untouched, including the newest leaf.
My issue is, it’s on the 5 smaller leaves. And there’s only 7 leaves total. So I can’t clip these off.
The plant is super healthy and beautiful otherwise.
Any suggestions?
Also, another beautiful sunset tonight :) just thought I’d throw it in there. #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #SucculentLove #PlantTherapy #GrowLights #NewPlantMom #OrchidLovers #MonsteraMonday
I unfortunately can’t seem to shake the rust fungus off of my Monstera Mint. I have been doing treatments with captain jacks for a little over a month now. (Spraying the entire plant once every 9 days)- and there’s still ALOT of new fungal growth.
The fungus is only on the small leaves- the 2 largest leaves are untouched, including the newest leaf.
My issue is, it’s on the 5 smaller leaves. And there’s only 7 leaves total. So I can’t clip these off.
The plant is super healthy and beautiful otherwise.
Any suggestions?
Also, another beautiful sunset tonight :) just thought I’d throw it in there. #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #SucculentLove #PlantTherapy #GrowLights #NewPlantMom #OrchidLovers #MonsteraMonday
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@luvmygreenhouse no the patches do not get bigger. However, Rust fungus spreads very easily so multiple new spots appear.
@VenusianPlants Hi Diana,
The soil doesn’t have any scent at all. And it’s an extremely airy mix- it honestly hardly stays moist (In a good way).
Unfortunately she came to me with the fungus. I’ve just have had to try to tame it since I got her.
The infection is localized. It’s only on those 5 leaves, has always only been in those 5 leaves since I got her. So I know the captain jacks is keeping it from spreading to untouched tissue. But I can’t stop the growth on the old leaves. I guess I’m more curious if it’s possible to kill the fungus- or am if I’m gonna have to put this work into her forever.
I’m a little nervous of taking off the leaves because it would be a pretty big portion and it would probably affect photosynthesis.
I think I’m gonna wait till they yellow out first.
The soil doesn’t have any scent at all. And it’s an extremely airy mix- it honestly hardly stays moist (In a good way).
Unfortunately she came to me with the fungus. I’ve just have had to try to tame it since I got her.
The infection is localized. It’s only on those 5 leaves, has always only been in those 5 leaves since I got her. So I know the captain jacks is keeping it from spreading to untouched tissue. But I can’t stop the growth on the old leaves. I guess I’m more curious if it’s possible to kill the fungus- or am if I’m gonna have to put this work into her forever.
I’m a little nervous of taking off the leaves because it would be a pretty big portion and it would probably affect photosynthesis.
I think I’m gonna wait till they yellow out first.
@Bmd push a penny with the year of 1982 or earlier into the pot close to the roots. Pennies from these years are made from real copper. You can also use any kind of copper pieces. I am planning to get some copper from Home Depot to use in the pots of my philodendrons. Some of them are more prone to rust fungus than others. It won’t help the leaves that already have spots but will prevent the new leaves from getting it. Hope this helps.
@BonusTaraire85 wow Donna, I never heard of this! I will definitely give it a try:) thank you so much
To treat and eliminate rust fungus on a variegated Monstera or tropical houseplant, follow these key steps:
1. Isolate the Plant Immediately
Rust spores spread easily through airflow, direct contact, or splashing water. Move the plant away from other house plants to stop transmission.
2. Prune Badly Affected Foliage
Use clean, sterilized shears or scissors (wiped down with 70% isopropyl alcohol).
Trim off leaves or leaf portions that have distinct rust spots or powdery orange/red/brown pustules.
Avoid tearing or shaking the leaves during pruning so spores do not disperse.
3. Apply a Copper Fungicide or Sulfur Spray
Copper Fungicide: Spray a ready-to-use liquid copper fungicide over both sides of the remaining leaves and stems until thoroughly covered.
Sulfur Dust or Spray: Alternatively, use a powdered or liquid sulfur fungicide according to product label directions.
Repeat application every 7–14 days as recommended by the manufacturer until all signs of active fungal spread are gone.
4. Modify Watering and Environment
Keep foliage dry: Water directly at the root level/soil surface. Do not mist or splash water onto the leaves.
Improve airflow: Ensure adequate ventilation around the plant to prevent high humidity pockets around leaves.
Provide good light: Place the plant in bright, indirect light to help foliage stay dry and encourage healthy growth.
5. Sanitize Equipment and Disposal
Dispose of affected leaves in the trash (do not compost them).
Clean tools, surface areas, and hands thoroughly after handling infected plants.
Are you noticing powdery orange-red dust rubbing off the spots on the undersides of the leaves, or are they dry, brown sunken spots?
1. Isolate the Plant Immediately
Rust spores spread easily through airflow, direct contact, or splashing water. Move the plant away from other house plants to stop transmission.
2. Prune Badly Affected Foliage
Use clean, sterilized shears or scissors (wiped down with 70% isopropyl alcohol).
Trim off leaves or leaf portions that have distinct rust spots or powdery orange/red/brown pustules.
Avoid tearing or shaking the leaves during pruning so spores do not disperse.
3. Apply a Copper Fungicide or Sulfur Spray
Copper Fungicide: Spray a ready-to-use liquid copper fungicide over both sides of the remaining leaves and stems until thoroughly covered.
Sulfur Dust or Spray: Alternatively, use a powdered or liquid sulfur fungicide according to product label directions.
Repeat application every 7–14 days as recommended by the manufacturer until all signs of active fungal spread are gone.
4. Modify Watering and Environment
Keep foliage dry: Water directly at the root level/soil surface. Do not mist or splash water onto the leaves.
Improve airflow: Ensure adequate ventilation around the plant to prevent high humidity pockets around leaves.
Provide good light: Place the plant in bright, indirect light to help foliage stay dry and encourage healthy growth.
5. Sanitize Equipment and Disposal
Dispose of affected leaves in the trash (do not compost them).
Clean tools, surface areas, and hands thoroughly after handling infected plants.
Are you noticing powdery orange-red dust rubbing off the spots on the undersides of the leaves, or are they dry, brown sunken spots?
@mamalinne thank you for the tag.
To start I want to say to people PLEASE STOP RECOMMENDING ALCOHOL!!!
It breaks down the waxy protective coating in the plant leaves and will cause future bacterial and fungal infections.
Also, NEVER USE COPPER AS A FIRST LINE OF TREATMENT. It should be reserved for dire situations like blight. Where it is essential. When a plant is treated with copper the copper gets pushed into the pores. This will cause phototoxicity and destroy the leaves.
Free copper ions bind to functional groups on proteins and enzymes, destroying the catalytic machinery necessary for normal cellular metabolism. excess copper ions build up in the tissue, react with sunlight, and create toxic oxygen molecules that destroy plant cell walls and membranes.
It's bad news...
Now to treat you plant for rust fungus.
You need pure neem oil. It must be pure. You can NOT use the premixed kind it will do nothing. Because once neem oil is mixed with water the active ingredient azadirachtin starts breaking down within 8 hours. So always mix a fresh batch the day you are using it.
The recipe:
1 Tablespoon PURE Neem oil
1/2 Teaspoon Castile Soap (Helps oil& water not separate) NEVER USE DISH SOAP
4 cups of water
Mix it all together in a spray bottle then spray down leaves and stem. Pour the leftover into the soil.
You MUST treat the soil as well because the spores fall into the soil. If the soil goes untreated, the spores germinate and the infection repeats itself.
Throughout treatment the neem mixture will be you water when the plant is thirsty.
Repeat every 7 days for 6 weeks. Never miss a treatment or you must start the process again.
Throw out any unused portion. It will not be effective after 8 hours.
If you have any question just ask. I also recommend cutting off all but 3 of the healthiest leaves. So she can focus her energy on producing new healthy leaves.
@Bmd @BonusTaraire85 @Alucen @luvmygreenhouse @MamaLinne @VenusianPlants @Shellyjam56
To start I want to say to people PLEASE STOP RECOMMENDING ALCOHOL!!!
It breaks down the waxy protective coating in the plant leaves and will cause future bacterial and fungal infections.
Also, NEVER USE COPPER AS A FIRST LINE OF TREATMENT. It should be reserved for dire situations like blight. Where it is essential. When a plant is treated with copper the copper gets pushed into the pores. This will cause phototoxicity and destroy the leaves.
Free copper ions bind to functional groups on proteins and enzymes, destroying the catalytic machinery necessary for normal cellular metabolism. excess copper ions build up in the tissue, react with sunlight, and create toxic oxygen molecules that destroy plant cell walls and membranes.
It's bad news...
Now to treat you plant for rust fungus.
You need pure neem oil. It must be pure. You can NOT use the premixed kind it will do nothing. Because once neem oil is mixed with water the active ingredient azadirachtin starts breaking down within 8 hours. So always mix a fresh batch the day you are using it.
The recipe:
1 Tablespoon PURE Neem oil
1/2 Teaspoon Castile Soap (Helps oil& water not separate) NEVER USE DISH SOAP
4 cups of water
Mix it all together in a spray bottle then spray down leaves and stem. Pour the leftover into the soil.
You MUST treat the soil as well because the spores fall into the soil. If the soil goes untreated, the spores germinate and the infection repeats itself.
Throughout treatment the neem mixture will be you water when the plant is thirsty.
Repeat every 7 days for 6 weeks. Never miss a treatment or you must start the process again.
Throw out any unused portion. It will not be effective after 8 hours.
If you have any question just ask. I also recommend cutting off all but 3 of the healthiest leaves. So she can focus her energy on producing new healthy leaves.
@Bmd @BonusTaraire85 @Alucen @luvmygreenhouse @MamaLinne @VenusianPlants @Shellyjam56
@SuperbRaspfern I have to agree please start recommending alcohol. Alcohol is not good for humans. It is definitely not good for plants. 
@GardenCat43 yes thank you! I’ve doing copper fungicide treatment for a little over 2 months. It has not helped. I chopped the leaves yesterday 😏 gonna restart the plant 🙌🏻
@OhGollyItsJolly @SuperbRaspfern I totally agree! I’ve seen so many people on here suggest using alcohol😭 as if plants have access to that in nature
@SuperbRaspfern this is great advice!! I wish there was a way to save posts like this in the Greg app. I just take screen shots and hope I can find them later when I need them. 🤷🏻♀️
@Forbes57 I'm glad it was helpful to you. I know there are some people who take screen shots and then save them in their notes.
I always let people know they can share and pass on any info I share. The goal for me is to help as many people as I can have healthy plants and be successful in their journeys.
So, if you do that, please feel free to pass on the info to others. 🩷 I'm quite busy and am not able to be on here very often. But, I am tagged for the more complicated situations. I will usually respond back within a day.
I always let people know they can share and pass on any info I share. The goal for me is to help as many people as I can have healthy plants and be successful in their journeys.
So, if you do that, please feel free to pass on the info to others. 🩷 I'm quite busy and am not able to be on here very often. But, I am tagged for the more complicated situations. I will usually respond back within a day.